Overview - Surah 7: al-A`raf (The Elevated Places)
The basic theme of this Surah is Risalah, i.e. Allah's message as it was sent through many messengers. Several Prophets and parts of their stories are mentioned to emphasize Prophets’ mission and their struggle with their people. The Surah tells us that Allah's Prophets suffered for the cause of truth. Their enemies tried to harm them, but then Allah helped his prophets and defeated their enemies. The Surah emphasizes that the true message must be presented under all circumstances. After the Prophets it is the duty of the Believers to convey the message of Allah to all people.
Sections:
- The Qur’an is revealed to remind the believers and to warn humankind about the consequences of their actions. The judgment will indeed take place.
- The story of Man's creation and Satan's opposition to Man.
- Warning to the Children of Adam to be aware of Satan's plots.
- Allah's messengers came to guide people.
- The end of those who denied the message and those who accepted the message.
- Cries of the wicked in the hellfire.
- The righteous will prosper.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophet Noah - peace be upon him.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophet Hud- peace be upon him.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophets Salih and Lot - peace be upon them.
- Some lessons from the story of Prophet Shu'aib - peace be upon him.
- Warnings against those who deny the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.
- Prophet Moses -peace be upon him- and his encounter with Pharaoh of Egypt.
- Pharaoh and his magicians were defeated.
- Pharaoh continued in his persecution of the Israelites.
- Some more signs were shown to Pharaoh and his people.
- The Torah was given to Prophet Moses- peace be upon him.
- Some Israelites started Calf worship.
- The Torah and Injil speak about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Allah's promise for those who will follow the last Prophet.
- Prophet Muhammad is the Universal Prophet. Some among the people of Prophet Moses were guided by the truth and lived with justice.
- Some Israelites transgressed Allah's laws and they suffered the consequences.
- The eternal covenant of Allah was taken from all human beings.
- The coming of the Last Hour
- Shirk has no logic. Ignore the wrongdoers, but invite to Allah with kindness. Listen to the Qur'an and always remember Allah.
The Surah is named after the story of the men awaiting on the “Elevations” between Paradise and Hell.
It comprises of 206 Ayat.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 206 |
| Total Words * | 3320 |
| Root Words * | 489 |
| Unique Root Words * | 14 |
| Makki / Madani | Makki |
| Chronological Order* | 39th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 13th year of Prophethood |
| Events during/before this Surah*
, 2nd Pledge of Aqabah, 1st Pledge of Aqabah, Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1, 2nd Migration to Abyssinia, Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah,Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr,Battle of Uhud,,Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
Adam, Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shuaib, Musa, Harun
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| Surah Index
‘Aad, Aaron, Adam, Adam (angels to prostrate before) , Adam (tree of knowledge) , Adam (banishment from Garden (no blame to Eve)) , Adversity (not burdened beyond capability to withstand) , Adversity (patience during) , God (made no laws regarding that of which He didn’t speak) , Apes (despicable) , Astronomy (celestial mechanics) , Children (of Israel) , Clothing, Commandments (general religious) , Disbelievers, Dogs, Earth, Earth (creation of) (in six days), Earth (rotation of) , Earthquake, Golden Calf, Gospel, Hell, Hud, Humankind (creation of) , Humankind (creation of) (from clay), Iblis, Jinn, Judgement (Day) , Knowledge (obligation upon man to obtain and impart) , Life (good things made lawful) , Lot, Madyan, Manna, Moses, Moses (bringing forth water from the rock) , Moses (duel by sorcery with Pharaoh’s magicians) , Moses (forty nights upon Mt. Sinai) , Moses (plagues) , Muhammad (not a madman) , Muhammad (only a prophet) , Muhammad (unlettered prophet) , Noah, Noah (ark) , Noah (flood) , Pharaoh, Prayer (beautify (adorn) yourselves for) , Prayer (prostration) , Pregnancy, Prophet (people who are false prophets are wicked) , Quail, Qur’an, Religion, Religion (is not play and transient delight) , Resurrection (Day) , Resurrection (of soul) , Revelation, Sabbath (breakers) , Salih, Sea, Shu’ayb, Sin, Ten Commandments, Thamud, Thamud (rock dwellings) , Thamud (she camel) , Thamud (she camel) (killing of), Thamud (she camel) (punishment for), Torah, Twelve tribes, Twelve tribes (scattering of) , Weather (clouds) , Weather (rain) , Weather (wind)
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The central theme of both Surah al-An’am and al-A’raf deal with the core issues of Faith but from different perspectives. Surah al-An’am presents the topic of Aqeedah and its realities by primarily focusing on the Jahilliyah [ignorance] of the Arabs whilst Surah al-A’raf deals with the Jahilliyah [ignorance] from a wider historical perspective, hence we find mention of Adam, Nuh People of Thamud, Lut, Madyan and Pharoah and his people.
Al-A'raf - The Elevations. Allah mentions Paradise and Hellfire and then speaks of the 'elevations' between them reserved for some amongst humanity. These people not knowing what will happen to them. The people of Hell-fire will be refused water as it will be prohibited for the disbelievers in the after-life.
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
14th Century
14th Century
8th century
8th century
7th century
7th century
14th Century
14th Century
18th Century
18th Century
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1130 AH (1717 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1271 AH (1855 CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
Late 1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
Late 1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
1st century / 2nd century of Hijrah
1st century / 2nd century of Hijra.
1st century / 2nd century of Hijra.
The central theme of both Surah al-An’am and al-A’raf deal with the core issues of Faith but from different perspectives. Surah al-An’am presents the topic of Aqeedah and its realities by primarily focusing on the Jahilliyah [ignorance] of the Arabs whilst Surah al-A’raf deals with the Jahilliyah [ignorance] from a wider historical perspective, hence we find mention of Adam, Nuh People of Thamud, Lut, Madyan and Pharoah and his people.
Surah al-A’raf adopts a totally different approach as it discusses the same question of Faith. It provides for it with the panoramic setting of human history. It starts with mankind’s journey as it begins in heaven and where it aims to return. Along this great expanse, we see the procession of faith starting with the Prophet Adam to the last of all prophets and messengers, Muhammad (peace be upon him). The procession holds the banner of faith and advocates, throughout human history, that the only way to human happiness is for people to adopt the faith based on God’s oneness. The surah outlines what reception this call received in different periods of history; how the leaders of this procession put the message across to mankind, and the responses they received; how the people in power went about conducting their campaigns of opposition and how the procession of believers brushed them aside and went along its way. This surah also portrays the fate that befell opponents of faith in this life and the different destinies in the hereafter of both believers and unbelievers.
It is a very long journey, but the surah takes us along, stage by stage, making a stop at every landmark to indicate that the road is clearly demarcated with well known starting and finishing lines. All mankind travels along, aiming to return to the point where it started, in heaven, with the Supreme society. [REF: Qutb, Fi Dhilal al-Qur’an]
- The previous surahs contain the new Mithaq [covenant] between Allah and the Muslim Ummah. This surah chronicles just how the previous nation, Bani Israel behaved with this Mithaq and how a person from amongst them [7:175] detached himself from the Revelation and the consequences of such actions.
It has been reported that the Prophet reciting this surah during Salatul Maghrib. [Sunan an-Nisai al-Kubra no.1061, Tafsir al-Maudhui, Dr. Mustafah Muslim.]
- Interesting note in connection to the central theme: we find this surah has used the word قرية (Qaryah) [and its various grammitical forms – meaning city, town] 10 times – the most frequent compared to any other surah.
- We also find the word أمة (nation) used 8 times in its various forms – also more than any other surah. This is revealed in the last year of the Makkan period and on the eve of the creation of the Islamic state and birth of the Muslim Ummah – hence the most important lessons.
- This Surah has mentioned 'Adam' seven times - more than any other Surah.
- There are more mentions of Musa in this Surah than any other Surah of the Qur'an.
- Words derived from R-B-B- (Lord, owner, master) appear 65 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
- The word M-L-A' - Cheifs/leaders appears 9 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
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وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۗ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّـهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ "And to the 'Aad [We sent] their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?" (7:65)
This is the first mention of the Prophet Hud in the Qur'an (the Prophet Hud is mentioned most in Surah Hud, a total of five times).
- Interesting note in connection to the central theme: we find this surah has used the word قرية (Qaryah) [and its various grammitical forms – meaning city, town] 10 times – the most frequent compared to any other surah.
- We also find the word أمة (nation) used 8 times in its various forms – also more than any other surah. This is revealed in the last year of the Makkan period and on the eve of the creation of the Islamic state and birth of the Muslim Ummah – hence the most important lessons.
- This Surah has mentioned 'Adam' seven times - more than any other Surah.
- There are more mentions of Musa in this Surah than any other Surah of the Qur'an.
- Words derived from R-B-B- (Lord, owner, master) appear 65 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
- The word M-L-A'- (Cheifs/leaders) appears 9 times in this Surah. The highest frequency compared to any other Surah.
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = 14* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ق و ل | 110 | 1722 |
| 2. | ك و ن | 74 | 1390 |
| 3. | أ ل ه | 70 | 2851 |
| 4. | ٱلَّذِى | 67 | 1464 |
| 5. | ر ب ب | 65 | 980 |
| 6. | ق و م | 55 | 660 |
| 7. | أ م ن | 36 | 879 |
| 8. | ر س ل | 30 | 513 |
| 9. | إِلَىٰ | 29 | 742 |
| 10. | أ ي ي | 29 | 382 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| ق و ل | 110 | 1722 |
| ك و ن | 74 | 1390 |
| أ ل ه | 70 | 2851 |
| ٱلَّذِى | 67 | 1464 |
| ر ب ب | 65 | 980 |
| ق و م | 55 | 660 |
| أ م ن | 36 | 879 |
| ر س ل | 30 | 513 |
| إِلَىٰ | 29 | 742 |
| أ ي ي | 29 | 382 |
A study of its contents clearly shows that the period of its revelation is about the same as that of Surah 6: al-An’am (The Grazing Livestock), i.e. the last year of the Prophet's life at Makkah, but it cannot be asserted with certainty which of these two were sent down earlier. The manner of its admonition clearly indicates that it belongs to the same period. [Ref: Mawdudi]
It is considered the longest surah revealed during the Makkan period. Some consider this surah to have been revealed after Surah 38: Sad. [Ref: Tafsir al-Maudheei, Dr. Mustafah Muslim, vol. 3, p. 2]
- An invitation is given to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) to become Muslims.
- A warning is given to the unbelievers about the consequences of their denial through citing the example of punishments which were inflicted upon former people for their wrong attitude towards their Rasools.
- The Jews are warned about the consequences of their hypocritical conduct towards the Prophets.
- Commandment to propagate the message of Islam with wisdom.
- The fact that the Rasools as well as the people to whom they are sent will be questioned on the Day of Judgement.
- Commandment to the Believers that they should wear decent and proper dress and eat pure and good food.
- Dialogue between the residents of paradise, the inmates of hell and the people of A'raf (a place between the Paradise and hell).
- The fact that affluence and adversity are the reminders from Allah.
- The fact that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Rasool for the all of mankind.
- The fact that the advent of Muhammad (pbuh) was described in Torah and the Gospel (Bible).
- The fact that the Jews have fabricated a wrong belief about Allah's forgiveness.
- Mankind's testimony about Allah at the time of Adam's creation.
- The fact that Allah created all of mankind from a single soul.
- Allah's commandment to show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant.
- Allah's commandment about listening to the recitation of The Qur'an with complete silence.
Tafsir Zone
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Overview (Verses 193 - 198) A Call Foolishly Turned Down The reference in the Qur’ān to deviation from the truth starting within the human soul as represented in the story of a married couple and the birth of their baby, applies to every form of polytheism and idolatry. It is intended to alert those who are to be addressed by the Qur’ān to the absolute folly of their idolatry that leads them to believe in those deities, which can neither create anything nor support their worshippers. They are indeed created; and they are powerless, unable to help themselves. This is their state whether they are human beings or of any other type. None of them can create or provide help. Now the sūrah changes the mode of relating a story in order to adopt a style that fits a direct confrontation with the pagan Arabs, but it continues the previous address. If you call them to guidance they will not follow you. It is all the same whether you call them or keep silent. Those whom you invoke beside God are God’s servants, just like you. Invoke them, then, and let them answer you, if what you claim is true. Have they, perchance, feet on which they could walk, or hands with which to grasp things, or eyes with which to see, or ears with which to hear? (Verses 193-195) Arab paganism was, as we have already explained, too foolish by the standards of any stage of the human intellect. Hence, the Qur’ān tries to alert the Arabs’ minds to their folly as they ascribed divinity to such deities. Those idols did not have feet with which to walk, hands with which to grasp, eyes with which to see, or ears with which to hear. Yet they themselves had these senses. How could they then worship statues made of stone that could not even do the things they themselves could do? Sometimes they considered these idols as symbols of the angels or of their own forefathers. Yet these were creatures like themselves who could not create anything or give support to anyone, because they themselves are created and cannot help themselves. There was this apparent element of applying double standards in the beliefs of the pagan Arabs, vacillating between the physical idols and what they symbolized. We assume that this is the reason for the frequent change in the Qur’ānic address as it refers sometimes to these idols using the animate pronoun to point to the symbols behind them, and at others using the pronoun for inanimate objects to denote that the idols themselves are lifeless. Yet the whole concept of idolatry is apparently false by the pure standards of the simple human mind. Hence, the Qur’ān alerts our minds to the need to steer away from this unbecoming lack of awareness. At the end of this argument, God directs His Messenger to challenge them together with all their powerless deities, and to declare his clear faith, acknowledging the patronage of God alone: “Say: ‘Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous. Those whom you invoke beside Him cannot give you any support, nor can they even help themselves. If you pray to them for guidance, they will not hear you. You may see them looking at you but they do not see.” (Verses 195-198) This is the type of challenge, which an advocate of the true faith would throw to jāhiliyyah. God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said it exactly as his Lord directed him, and put the challenge to all his contemporary idolaters and their alleged deities: “Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite.” (Verse 195) He invites them to muster all their scheming powers, and those of their deities, and to strike against him without waiting for a moment. As he threw out this challenge, he was fully confident, reassured that God would protect him against all their scheming: “My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.” (Verse 196) He thus declares what sort of support He relies on. He simply trusts to God who has revealed the Book. By this revelation, God has indicated His will that His Messenger should confront people with the truth embodied in that Book, and that He has willed that this truth will triumph over all falsehood. He has also willed to protect his righteous servants who convey His message believing in its truthfulness. Abū Bakr, the Prophet’s closest companion, was subjected to much harm. The idolaters hit him in the face with their shoes, and directed their strikes at his eyes, so that when they left him, his eyes were indistinguishable from his mouth. Despite this wicked assault, he kept repeating: “My Lord, how forbearing You are! How great is Your forbearance!” Deep at heart, he realized what lay behind this attack on him and how forbearing God is. He was certain that God was fully able to destroy his enemies and that He would never let His good servants down. The same challenge should be thrown down by every advocate of God’s message who follows in the footsteps of God’s Messenger (peace be upon him). It is the same challenge everywhere and at all times: “Say: ‘Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.’” (Verses 195-196) An advocate of the divine faith must not rely on any earthly power, instead he must rely only on God’s power. This will enable him to rise above all earthly powers. These are certainly of no substance, no matter how strong they may appear at first sight: “Mankind, an analogy is given here; so listen to it: Those whom you invoke instead of God will never create (as much as] a fly, even though they would join all their forces for the purpose. And if a fly robs them of anything, they cannot retrieve it. Weak indeed is the seeker, and weak the sought.” (22: 73) “Those who take beings other than God for their protectors may be compared to the spider which makes for itself a house. Surely the frailest of all houses is that of the spider, if they could only understand this.” (29: 41) These were examples of that great generation which was brought up in line with the Qur’ānic teachings, under the guidance of Muhammad, the Prophet (peace be upon him), who fully understood his Lord’s instructions as He said to him: “Say: ‘Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.’” (Verses 195-196) What happened after they had willingly tolerated all this aggression from scheming idolaters? What happened to them when they sought only the shelter of God who revealed the Book, and who is the patron of the righteous? This is well known in history. The eventual triumph and power belonged to God’s servants. Defeat and misery were the lot of the tyrants. Those of them who eventually responded positively to Islam joined the Muslim community where they had a lower position than those who were ahead of them in accepting the faith and who endured all hardship with a great trust in God. The advocates of the divine faith, wherever they may be and in whichever generation they may live, will not achieve anything unless they have such trust in God and such firm resolve to serve His cause: “My guardian is God who has bestowed the Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.” (Verse 196) God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) was commanded to challenge the idolaters, and he did so. He was ordered to explain to them the powerlessness of their deities and the folly of believing in such deities, and he acted on his instructions: “Those whom you invoke beside Him cannot give you any support, nor can they even help themselves.” (Verse 197) Just as this statement applied to the primitive form of idols the Arabs used to have in their ancient ignorant days, it applies in equal measure to all deities claimed by modern states of ignorance, or jāhiliyyah. An advocate of the divine faith normally finds himself confronting one of the numerous forms of jāhiliyyah. He must always adopt the attitude God has instructed His Messenger (peace be upon him) to adopt. He should always be ready to declare: “Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous. Those whom you invoke beside Him cannot give you any support, nor can they even help themselves. If you pray to them for guidance, they will not hear you. You may see them looking at you but they do not see.” (Verses 195-198) Indeed they are the same everywhere, and at all times. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
Mawdudi
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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Overview (Verses 193 - 198) A Call Foolishly Turned Down The reference in the Qur’ān to deviation from the truth starting within the human soul as represented in the story of a married couple and the birth of their baby, applies to every form of polytheism and idolatry. It is intended to alert those who are to be addressed by the Qur’ān to the absolute folly of their idolatry that leads them to believe in those deities, which can neither create anything nor support their worshippers. They are indeed created; and they are powerless, unable to help themselves. This is their state whether they are human beings or of any other type. None of them can create or provide help. Now the sūrah changes the mode of relating a story in order to adopt a style that fits a direct confrontation with the pagan Arabs, but it continues the previous address. If you call them to guidance they will not follow you. It is all the same whether you call them or keep silent. Those whom you invoke beside God are God’s servants, just like you. Invoke them, then, and let them answer you, if what you claim is true. Have they, perchance, feet on which they could walk, or hands with which to grasp things, or eyes with which to see, or ears with which to hear? (Verses 193-195) Arab paganism was, as we have already explained, too foolish by the standards of any stage of the human intellect. Hence, the Qur’ān tries to alert the Arabs’ minds to their folly as they ascribed divinity to such deities. Those idols did not have feet with which to walk, hands with which to grasp, eyes with which to see, or ears with which to hear. Yet they themselves had these senses. How could they then worship statues made of stone that could not even do the things they themselves could do? Sometimes they considered these idols as symbols of the angels or of their own forefathers. Yet these were creatures like themselves who could not create anything or give support to anyone, because they themselves are created and cannot help themselves. There was this apparent element of applying double standards in the beliefs of the pagan Arabs, vacillating between the physical idols and what they symbolized. We assume that this is the reason for the frequent change in the Qur’ānic address as it refers sometimes to these idols using the animate pronoun to point to the symbols behind them, and at others using the pronoun for inanimate objects to denote that the idols themselves are lifeless. Yet the whole concept of idolatry is apparently false by the pure standards of the simple human mind. Hence, the Qur’ān alerts our minds to the need to steer away from this unbecoming lack of awareness. At the end of this argument, God directs His Messenger to challenge them together with all their powerless deities, and to declare his clear faith, acknowledging the patronage of God alone: “Say: ‘Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous. Those whom you invoke beside Him cannot give you any support, nor can they even help themselves. If you pray to them for guidance, they will not hear you. You may see them looking at you but they do not see.” (Verses 195-198) This is the type of challenge, which an advocate of the true faith would throw to jāhiliyyah. God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said it exactly as his Lord directed him, and put the challenge to all his contemporary idolaters and their alleged deities: “Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite.” (Verse 195) He invites them to muster all their scheming powers, and those of their deities, and to strike against him without waiting for a moment. As he threw out this challenge, he was fully confident, reassured that God would protect him against all their scheming: “My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.” (Verse 196) He thus declares what sort of support He relies on. He simply trusts to God who has revealed the Book. By this revelation, God has indicated His will that His Messenger should confront people with the truth embodied in that Book, and that He has willed that this truth will triumph over all falsehood. He has also willed to protect his righteous servants who convey His message believing in its truthfulness. Abū Bakr, the Prophet’s closest companion, was subjected to much harm. The idolaters hit him in the face with their shoes, and directed their strikes at his eyes, so that when they left him, his eyes were indistinguishable from his mouth. Despite this wicked assault, he kept repeating: “My Lord, how forbearing You are! How great is Your forbearance!” Deep at heart, he realized what lay behind this attack on him and how forbearing God is. He was certain that God was fully able to destroy his enemies and that He would never let His good servants down. The same challenge should be thrown down by every advocate of God’s message who follows in the footsteps of God’s Messenger (peace be upon him). It is the same challenge everywhere and at all times: “Say: ‘Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.’” (Verses 195-196) An advocate of the divine faith must not rely on any earthly power, instead he must rely only on God’s power. This will enable him to rise above all earthly powers. These are certainly of no substance, no matter how strong they may appear at first sight: “Mankind, an analogy is given here; so listen to it: Those whom you invoke instead of God will never create (as much as] a fly, even though they would join all their forces for the purpose. And if a fly robs them of anything, they cannot retrieve it. Weak indeed is the seeker, and weak the sought.” (22: 73) “Those who take beings other than God for their protectors may be compared to the spider which makes for itself a house. Surely the frailest of all houses is that of the spider, if they could only understand this.” (29: 41) These were examples of that great generation which was brought up in line with the Qur’ānic teachings, under the guidance of Muhammad, the Prophet (peace be upon him), who fully understood his Lord’s instructions as He said to him: “Say: ‘Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.’” (Verses 195-196) What happened after they had willingly tolerated all this aggression from scheming idolaters? What happened to them when they sought only the shelter of God who revealed the Book, and who is the patron of the righteous? This is well known in history. The eventual triumph and power belonged to God’s servants. Defeat and misery were the lot of the tyrants. Those of them who eventually responded positively to Islam joined the Muslim community where they had a lower position than those who were ahead of them in accepting the faith and who endured all hardship with a great trust in God. The advocates of the divine faith, wherever they may be and in whichever generation they may live, will not achieve anything unless they have such trust in God and such firm resolve to serve His cause: “My guardian is God who has bestowed the Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous.” (Verse 196) God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) was commanded to challenge the idolaters, and he did so. He was ordered to explain to them the powerlessness of their deities and the folly of believing in such deities, and he acted on his instructions: “Those whom you invoke beside Him cannot give you any support, nor can they even help themselves.” (Verse 197) Just as this statement applied to the primitive form of idols the Arabs used to have in their ancient ignorant days, it applies in equal measure to all deities claimed by modern states of ignorance, or jāhiliyyah. An advocate of the divine faith normally finds himself confronting one of the numerous forms of jāhiliyyah. He must always adopt the attitude God has instructed His Messenger (peace be upon him) to adopt. He should always be ready to declare: “Appeal to those you claim to be partners with God, and scheme against me, and give me no respite. My guardian is God who has bestowed this Book from on high. It is He who is the guardian of the righteous. Those whom you invoke beside Him cannot give you any support, nor can they even help themselves. If you pray to them for guidance, they will not hear you. You may see them looking at you but they do not see.” (Verses 195-198) Indeed they are the same everywhere, and at all times. |
- Surah Al-Araf (The Heights) Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJmEeRYGag&index=7&list=PLFBCB5C33480F350C
- Surah Al-Araf Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAIqY4YG5v4&index=7&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM
- Surah Al-Araf Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PH63X7q_Wk&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe&index=7
- Surah Araf Idris Akba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP1DvywAaoI
- Surah Al-Araf muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdAOUom0mP4&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=7
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-An'am (130) to Surah Al-A'raf (1-37)2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMuuDJXS-0A&index=38&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (38-131)1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT223pGb-4k&index=39&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (38-131)2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMsXRQtXN8w&index=40&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (132-end)1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s2AOg0EbWM&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263&index=41
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al-A'raf (132-end)2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcwRd9aqOw&index=42&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
